Game device



N. KASTRANS GAME DEVICE Sept. 12, 1967 Filed April 23, 1965 INVENTOR. N/CHOLAS KASTRANS ATTORNEYS 3,340,735 GAME DEVICE Nicholas Kastrans, 23075 Valley View, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,423 Claims. (Cl. 73-380) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention relates to game devices, and moreparticularly to such devices operable to indicate the degree of force propelling a restrained projectile such as a golf ball.

Such devices generally are not new, but heretofore they have been complex devices which are not readily adjusted, set up, or operated.

An-object of the present invention is to provide such a device which comprises a minimum number of parts which are readily assembled and which are adaptable for varying games or tests of skill and power.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate use of such devices by providing simplified adjustments and readily observed indicia which will indicate the relative force propelling the projectile.

The present invention is shown adapted for use as a golf ball drive tester or game, but it will be apparent that it can be adapted to other uses, such as a baseball batting or throwing tester and the like.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the device in perspective.

As illustrated, a preferred device embodying the invention comprises a support base assembly having a front panel 12 and rear panel 14 secured to a top member 16 by any means such as screws 18, and braced by side struts 20 secured to the panels 12 and 14 by any means such as screws 22.

A strip 24 is secured to the bottom of the front panel 12 and has holes 26 in the ends adapted to receive hookended rods 28 which may be thrust into the ground (not shown) for holding the device in place.

An upstanding angle plate 30 is mounted on the forward end of the top member 16 by any means such as bolts 32. An actuated arm 34 has one end pivotally supported on the plate 30 by a bolt 36 or the like and extends rearwardly as shown.

A mast assembly 38 comprises a lower upstanding portion 40 secured to the rear panel 14 by bolts 42 or the like, and an upper portion 44 adjustably supported on the lower portion by any means such as bolts 46 extending through a longitudinal slot 50 in the portion 44 and clamped in place by wing nuts 48. An arm 52 secured to the top of the portion 44 extends rearward and carries one end of a depending spring 54, the lower end thereof being connected to the rearwardly extending end of the arm 34, thereby holding same in an initial rest position as shown.

An actuator arm 56 is pivotally carried at an intermediate point by a bolt 58 or the like on the side edge of the top member 16 on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the actuated arm 34. The upper end of the arm 56 has a return bent portion 60 embracing the actuated I United States Patent 0 "ice arm 34 and carries a pin 62 which slidably engages the upper edge of the arm 34.

A golf ball 64 or other desired projectile is connected to the lower end of the actuator arm 56 by a line preferably comprising a length of relatively non-resilient cord 66 such as is used for chalk-line, and a length of relatively resilient cord 68 such as nylon or the like. The line should not be totally resilient, because in use it will snap a propelled ball back with danger to the user, but some resilience is necessary to prevent the line from breaking.

The upper edge of the actuated arm 34 is provided with rearward sloping ratchet teeth 70 as shown, and appropriate indicia 72 may be provided on the side of the arm 34 substantially as shown. Also, a reference mark 74 is preferably provided on the lower mast portion 40 to indicate the preferred position of the lower edge of the upper mast portion 44.

A guide element 76, preferably comprising a U-bent wire, is adapted to be driven into the ground in a location forward of the base assembly 10 and generally in the plane of the actuator arm 56, with the line 66, 68 threaded through as shown.

In operation, when the ball 64 or the like is propelled forward, as by being hit with a golf club, it will travel the length of the line 66, 68 and then exert a forward force on the lower end of the actuator arm 56. The arm 56 will pivot the upper end rearwardly, the pin 62 riding ,over the ratchet teeth and depressing the actuated arm 34 against the tension of the spring 54 an amount which is substantially proportional to the degree of force with which the ball 64 was propelled.

The ratchet teeth 70 will retain or latch the arm 56 in the maximum pivoted position, and the indicia (in this case representing one, two and three hundred yards in twenty yard increments) will indicate what an unrestricted flight of the ball 64 would have been.

The vertical adjustability of the mast 38 provided a means of calibrating the device to a known force, or will permit greater or lesser forces to produce a selected indication. The device can be used as a test of power or skill, or for competitive games, as desired.

The guide element 76 keeps the line 66, 68 from pulling sidewise on the arm 56, and also provides a means of indicating Whether a driven golf ball is sliced or hooked, since any but a straight drive will cause the line to engage one side or the other of the element 76.

Although I have described and shown only one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A game device comprising:

(a) a support structure,

(b) an actuated arm having an end pivotally carried on said support structure,

(c) spring means attached to the other end of said actuated arm for biasing said actuated arm to an initial position,

(d) an actuator arm pivotally carried on said support structure and having one end engaging said actuated arm for displacing said actuated arm away from said initial position a distance related to a force pivoting said actuator arm in one direction,

(e) a projectile connected to said actuator arm on the other endthereof and operable when propelled to exert said force pivoting said actuator arm in said one direction,

(f) said one end of said actuator arm being slidably engageable intermediate the ends of said actuated 3 4 arm and operable upon pivoting of said actuator guide means for causing said line to eXert a unidirectional arm to slide along said actuated arm and depress the force on the end of said actuator arm regardless of the same against the force of said spring biasing means direction of propulsion of said ball. to a position indicative of the force pivoting said actuator arm and 5 References (g) indicia on said actuated arm to indicate the amount UNITED STATES PATENTS of force-causing the end of said actuator arm to slide 534,041 2/1895 Graham 73 381 along actuated 1 987 859 1/1935 M er 73-379 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuated arm has 2862712 12/1958 "('1 73 379 latching means cooperating with said end of said actuator 10 2982136 5/1961 3 a 73381 arm for retaining said end to a position when moved along m a said actuated arm by the force pivoting said actuator arm.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 further comprising FOREIGN PATENTS means for adjusting the force of said spring biasing means. 105,134 9/ 1938 Australia.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein: 15 258,434 9/1926 Great Britain. (a) said projectile comprises a ball adapted to be man- 276,754 10/ 1951 Switzerland.

ually propelled, and

(b) said ball is connected to the end of said actuator JAMES J. GILL, Acting Primary Examiner.

arm by a line of preselected length.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 further comprising 20 WILLIAMSON Examine"- 

1. A GAME DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORT STRUCTURE, (B) AN ACTUATED ARM HAVING AN END PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, (C) SPRING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ACTUATED ARM FOR BIASING SAID ACTUATED ARM TO AN INITIAL POSITION, (D) AN ACTUATOR ARM PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND HAVING ONE END ENGAGING SAID ACTUATED ARM FOR DISPLACING SAID ACTUATED ARM AWAY FROM SAID INITIAL POSITION A DISTANCE RELATED TO A FORCE PIVOTING SAID ACUTATOR ARM ON ONE DIRECTION, (E) A PROJECTILE CONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATOR ARM ON THE OTHER END THEREOF AND OPERABLE WHEN PROPELLED TO EXERT SAID FORCE PIVOTING SAID ACTUATOR ARM IN SAID ONE DIRECTION, (F) SAID ONE END OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM BEING SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID ACTUATED ARM AND OPERABLE UPON PIVOTING OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM TO SLIDE ALONG SAID ACTUATED ARM AND DEPRESS THE SAME AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID SPRING BIASING MEANS TO A POSITION INDICATIVE OF THE FORCE PIVOTING SAID ACTUATOR ARM, AND (G) INDICIA ON SAID ACTUATED ARM TO INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE CAUSING THE END OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM TO SLIDE ALONG SAID ACTUATED ARM. 